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Could platelet indices have diagnostic properties in children with COVID-19?
Dejan Dobrijević1,2, Jelena Antić1,2, Goran Rakić1,2
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Insights
Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) can help predict COVID-19 in children. These platelet indices showed diagnostic value, unlike plateletcrit (PCT), for identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Biomarkers
Background:
- Viral infections frequently cause reactive thrombocytosis, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Platelet indices like plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) are often altered during infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of PCT, MPV, and PDW in identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.
- To determine if these platelet indices can serve as predictive biomarkers for COVID-19 in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 232 children diagnosed with COVID-19 and 245 controls with negative SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections.
- Recording of PCT, MPV, and PDW values upon admission for COVID-19 patients.
- Statistical analysis including descriptive and inferential methods to assess diagnostic properties.
Main Results:
- MPV and PDW were identified as significant independent predictors of COVID-19 in children.
- The combined analysis of MPV and PDW demonstrated a confirmed predictive capability for COVID-19.
- These platelet parameters exhibited higher sensitivity than specificity in predicting the infection.
Conclusions:
- PCT was found to lack clinical significance in predicting COVID-19 in children.
- MPV and PDW possess diagnostic value for predicting COVID-19 in pediatric cases.
- Future implementation of MPV and PDW in learning algorithms may facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment of pediatric COVID-19.
Introduction:
Viral infections are often accompanied by reactive thrombocytosis, that is, increased activity of platelets, which is especially common in infants and children.
Objective:
This study aimed to test the diagnostic properties of platelet indices, plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW), in children with beta corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Methods:
The study included 232 patients below the age of 18 admitted to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) isolation wards at the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina. PCT, MPV and PDW values on the day of admission were recorded. In total, 245 controls were selected from those treated for SARS-CoV-2 negative respiratory infections. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.
Results:
MPV and PDW were found important as independent predictors for COVID-19 in children. Furthermore, the joint effect of MPV and PDW for predicting COVID-19 was confirmed. The parameters showed better sensitivity than specificity.
Conclusion:
Our study showed that PCT is not clinically significant, while MPV and PDW have diagnostic value in predicting COVID-19 in children. In perspective, these parameters could be implemented in the various learning algorithms in order to achieve earlier diagnosis and treatment.
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